Providence

"No heat in house, no running water," wrote an inspector after visiting the apartment building at 110 Bowdoin Street, in the Olneyville section of Providence. "Issuing intent to condemn, house was a mess."

The report, signed January 3, 2018, went on to describe occupants relying on space heaters and propane torches for warmth, during one of the coldest periods in recent memory. There was an open electrical panel in the basement, the inspector noted. Residents were complaining of constant problems and frozen pipes.

At the start of the New Year, many high school seniors are scrambling to get college applications finished. But for many undocumented students, applying to college is just half the battle. The other half is figuring out how to pay for school, and that can be overwhelming. One Providence teacher is trying to help.

Rachel Cohen teaches English as a second language at Mount Pleasant High School in Providence. She says some of her students are undocumented, which means they don’t qualify for federal financial aid.

Rhode Island General Treasurer Seth Magaziner joins Political Roundtable to discuss why he supports the PawSox stadium deal. Plus, the push to overhaul the state's crumbling school buildings and the challenge of overcoming the 38 Studios hangover.

There's barely a month left in 2017, meaning we're on the brink of what promises to be a dynamic election year in Rhode Island. So thanks for stopping by for my weekly column. As usual, your tips and comments are welcome, and you can follow me through the week on the twitters. Here we go.

Sure, Rhode Island is on a glide path for the holiday season, but a dynamic election year is fast approaching. So thanks for stopping by for my weekly column. As usual, your tips and comments are welcome, and you can follow me through the week on the twitters. (A quick program note: my TGIF column is taking next week off and will resume on December 1.) Here we go.

RWU criminal justice professor Sean Vargano talks with Rhode Island Public Radio’s John Bender about the deadly police shooting last week in Providence.

The city of Providence has suffered a trauma. That’s the view of Roger Williams University Criminal Justice Professor Sean Varano, who weighed in Monday on the fatal police shooting of a suspect on Interstate-95.

A giant, miles-long tunnel is about to be drilled hundreds of feet beneath Connecticut’s capital. This subterranean project will take years, cost hundreds of millions of dollars, and the hope is, result in cleaner water for the Connecticut River and Long Island Sound. A similar project has improved pollution but raised prices significantly for sewer customers in Rhode Island.

Law enforcement officials are not releasing details about the man who was shot and killed by police on a stretch of I-95 Thursday morning near the Providence Place mall. A woman was also hurt during the shooting and was brought to the hospital.

Lawmakers and environmentalists are disappointed in and concerned about the federal Environmental Protection Agency's decision to stop three agency scientists from talking about their research on climate change.

Thursday is the last chance for recipients of the federal immigration program Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals to renew their status. After that, the federal government has announced it will wind down the program, which allows residents brought into the country illegally as children to remain and work without fear of deportation.

If you tune into 95.5 FM today, you’ll hear Christian rock, a far cry from the edgy, alternative music WBRU broadcast on 95.5 for decades. The station sold the signal to Christian broadcaster Educational Media Foundation this year. RIPR’s John Bender hung out with some of the WBRU DJs, reporters, and producers right before the switch.